1750-1799

Cornet James Richardson had a grand occasion to celebrate during his time as Cornet in 1777 – the opening of the Drumlanrig Bridge bringing a convenient new way from the Tower Knowe to the Sandbed, rather than the old road which bogled its way over the Auld Brig over the Slitrig and then down Silver … Continue reading →

William Oliver was Cornet in 1758, and he was a banker. Just as we have nicknames for bankers now , so it was then – he was “Old Cash”. He was about the first one in Hawick – becoming agent for the Bank of Scotland in 1792 [though he may just have been pipped at … Continue reading →

Four fine silver watches made by the 1781 Cornet, James Wilson, were stolen from the Bull and Mouth Inn in London in 1778 The New Daily Advertiser of 5 June 1778 reported a major robbery from the Bull and Mouth Inn in Holborn early that Sunday morning. The Bull and Mouth crops up often in the … Continue reading →

Always been intrigued by James Ekron – and his nickname “The Blast” First the very Biblical sounding name – Ekron is a city in Canaan. In very bible-literate times, it could be that the reference below in 1 Samuel 5:1 would be well known – it certainly would attract the attention of any young lads … Continue reading →